Sepp van den Berg has hinted that he wants to sign for Schalke 04 beyond this season having spend the year with the German club out on loan.
Speaking to WAZ, the Liverpool talent revealed that he would be open to staying with the Bundesliga giants if Schalke made an attempt to keep the 21-year-old Dutch centre-back, with Van den Berg spending most of the season out through injury.
Marking his return to the pitch last month with a crucial goal for Schalke, the German side currently sit 15th in the Bundesliga and two points above the relegation zone, and Die Konigsblauen surviving the drop could result in Van den Berg staying with the club for longer.
Whilst it is unknown if Liverpool will sanction a permanent transfer for a talent as highly-rated as Van den Berg, the defender’s latest comments seem to suggest that the 21-year-old is open to staying with Schalke on a permanent deal, which could be a blow for the Reds.
Van den Berg said on the prospect of staying at Schalke after this season: “In the two games against Bremen and Mainz alone, I gained a lot of experience. The Bundesliga is a great opportunity for me. If Schalke want to keep me, I’m definitely open to staying.”
Liverpool should extend Van den Berg’s loan spell by one season
Having missed five months of the season due to an ankle injury, Van den Berg’s campaign in Germany could not have gone any worse, and whilst Liverpool might be reluctant to sell the defender for good, another year out on loan with Schalke could be perfect for the youngster.
The Bundesliga side are clearly big fans of Van den Berg, and with the defender back to full fitness and starting regular games for the German giants, the youngster spending a second season out on loan could work wonders for the Dutch youth international.
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